Donna Cuthbert: The cat crisis in Nottingham

EIGHTEEN months ago I wrote an article about how we had taken in kittens here at Hyson Green (despite having no animal holding facilities) that had been dumped.

The article voiced my difficulty in comprehending what would drive someone to physically take an animal, put it in a box and leave it alone, bewildered and most often terrified. I simply don't understand it.

Move on 18 months however and depressingly, things are no better. In fact, for the second year running we are experiencing a cat crisis.

You'll find most rescues are saying the same thing – too many cats and not enough homes.

The problem is that cats are VERY good at breeding. Females are in and out of season until they are either pregnant or spayed.

There used to be a 'kitten season' where, between March and October, you would see most kittens born. However, in the last few years, this has stretched to being almost continual with only a slight drop over winter months.

A queen (female) can have three litters a year, with on average four kittens in each. That's 12 kittens all needing homes, all needing veterinary treatment, all needing someone to take care for them, not just feeding and loving them.

One female cat can, over five years, be responsible for tens of thousands of descendants. That fact makes me wince.

This branch and the RSPCA Radcliffe Animal Shelter currently have over 90 cats in care, some who can't be adopted until they are over illness, operations or are still part of inspectors' cases.

We are full; we are not just saying it.

So when people who don't bother with spaying or neutering then find themselves in a predicament of not being able to re-home kittens, they turn to rescues who are all struggling and juggling.

So, what is the answer? It's simple – neuter or spay your cat. If you choose to have a pet cat, then it's the responsible thing to do.

The good news is, we can help anyone who lives in our branch area with the cost. Just visit www.rspca-nottinghamandnotts.org.uk or phone 0115 9784965. Remember, it takes two and we help with the cost of both male and female!

Comments

This is a very sad story, more so because, unless I did not see the photo correctly, all the kittens shown are female, making them more expensive to neuter than males. This wanton breeding of cats, as well as that of dogs, horses and donkeys (with the notable exception of registered Rare Breeds) has to stop. However, given the attitude of many people towards their own fertility and that of their offspring, this does not surprise me. I think it fair to say that the time has come to legislate against owning animals without some sort of licence and ensuring that breeding them is kept under control. We also need to look at why the Government continues to ignore this issue and continues to pay people to breed with pointless policies that encourage women to get pregnant in a country that is grossly overpopulated. It costs around £6,000 to deliver a woman on the NHS (including the cost of antenatal care and the inexplicable free prescriptions that follow, no matter how much money the woman earns while those who are unemployed often have to pay for their medicines) on top of which comes the cost of allowing a working woman to take time off work that is not covered by a sick note from her obstetrician or GP. Conversely, it only costs around £1,000 to sterilise her. I know where I would prefer my taxes to go. Saving money by removing policies that encourage people to breed would free up money to support animal welfare and environmental charities and go towards making this country a nicer place for all of us.